Anthelephila bispilifasciata bispilifasciata ( Pic, 1897 )

Kejval, Zbyněk & Cz, Domažlice, 2012, Studies on the genus Anthelephila (Coleoptera: Anthicidae). 12. Review of the species from Yemen, including Socotra Island, Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 52, pp. 347-363 : 352

Anthelephila bispilifasciata bispilifasciata ( Pic, 1897)

( Figs. 18, 19 )

Material examined. YEMEN: 1 J, Al Hudaydah gov., 20 km SE of Hudaydah, 50 m, oase with Acacia sp., 14°43′N 49°09′E, 12.iv.1997, Brechtel, Wurst & Ehmann leg. ( ZKDC) ; 1♀, Jabal Bura , 25 km SE of Bajil, 14°53′N 43°27′E, 1000 m, 13.iv.1997, Brechtel, Wurst & Ehmann leg. ( ZKDC) ; 2 ♀♀, 20 km W of Lawdar , 13°53′N 45°48′E, 1101 m, 26.–27.iii.2007, P. Kabátek leg. ( ZKDC) ; 1 ♀, Wadi Daw’an , NW of Al Mukalla, 15°00′N 48°26′E, 946 m, 3.iv.2007, S. Kadlec leg. ( ZKDC) ; 1♀, Jabal Aş Şalw , 24 km NWW of Turbah, 13°19′N 44°07′E, 1863 m, 25.x.2005, S. Kadlec leg. ( ZKDC) ; 1 ♀, N of Lahij, 13°10′N 44°49′E, 258 m, 23.x.2005, P. Kabátek leg. ( ZKDC) ; 1 ♀, Wadi Surdud ( Sari’ ), W of Sana’a’, 15°15′N 43°30′E, 627 m, 2.xi.2005, P. Kabátek leg. ( ZKDC) ; 1♀, 20 km W of Lawdar , 13°53′N 45°48′E, 1101 m, at light, 26.–27.iii.2007, M. Rejzek leg., 2 JJ ( ZKDC) ; 2 ♀♀, Sana’a gov., Bab Bahel (river valley and pool), 15°07.0′N 43°40.9′E, 1195 m, 4.xi.2010, P. Hlaváč leg. ( NMPC) .

Remarks. PIC (1897, 1898b) described both Formicomus bispilifasciatus and F. bispilifasciatus var. obscuripennis from Obock in Djibouti, and later recorded F. bispilifasciatus from Yemen ( PIC & HAWKINS 1957). The variety was rather provisionally raised to subspecific rank by CHANDLER et al. (2004), with respect to the Article 45.6.4 of the Code (ICZN 1999). I have not examined either the types of both subspecies or any specimens from Djibouti. The above listed specimens were found to be identical with the three Yemeni specimens (1 J, 2 ♀♀ from Ahwar) identified by R. F. Heberdey and deposited in the BMNH ( PIC & HAWKINS 1957), and also the specimens from Saudi Arabia, identified by G. Uhmann ( UHMANN 1998), and Oman (Dhofar province, ZKDC).

Anthelephila bispilifasciata does not seem to be closely related to any of the presently known Palaearctic species. Its males are difficult to recognize owing to minimal sexual dimorphism (simple front legs, slightly modified sternum VII). The specimens from the Arabian Peninsula are mostly dark coloured, with an indication of wide, transverse whitish setose bands on the elytra together with scattered, distinctly longer erect setae ( Fig. 18 ). Remarkably, some of the specimens differ conspicuously in having the elytra contrastingly pale reddish, with rather even, short setation ( Fig. 19 ). Both forms may occur at the same localities, and do not differ in male characters. Similar colour aberration is probably found in the type of A. arabica (see above).

Figures

Figs. 17–24. Anthelephila spp., body in dorsal view. 17 – A. anceyi rathjensi (Pic, 1957), female, Wadi Zabid; 18 – A. bispilifasciata bispilifasciata (Pic, 1897), female, Turbah; 19 – same species, male, Lawdar; 20 – A. caeruleipennis (LaFerté-Sénectère, 1849), male, Lawdar; 21 – A. paolii (Krekich-Strassoldo, 1928), male, Sana’a; 22 – A. pilitarsis sp. nov., holotype; 23 – A. praefecta sp. nov., paratype, female, Jabal Bura; 24 – A. walkeri (Pic, 1895), male, Al Mukalla.